Copyholder and assembler



DEC. 16, G W|LK|N COPYHOLDER AND ASSEMBLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1967 j INVENTOR.

flea/640s G. mgr/v L77- TaeNEs s.

Dec. 16, 1969 0. G. wlLKiN 3,484,072

COPYHOLDER AND AS SEMBLER Filed June 22, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Dal/64.108 G. WLK/N a M/ :74

United States Patent 3,484,072 COPYHOILDER AND ASSEMBLER Douglas G. Wilkin, 3061 Evelyn St, La Crescenta, Calif. 91014 Filed June 22, 1967, Ser. No. 647,969 Int. Cl. A47b 97/04; A47g 1/24; E0511 17/00 US. Cl. 248-452 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The copyholder shown in FIGS. to 7 can be tilted to the position of FIG. 9 for assembly of paper and carbon paper. Individual sheets placed on the plate A slide toward the side and bottom ledges B and C and are guided to accurate juxtaposition. A guide D (FIG. 4) cams the edge of the paper downwardly and prevents it from jumping the ledge B which it might otherwise do, especially if the paper is slightly bowed. An ordinary rubber band F (FIG. 8) is normally recessed in a groove extending across the top of the copyholder. A copy sheet (FIG. 6) can be yieldingly held at a desired level by the rubber band. Yet the rubber band is out of the way when the device is used for assembly. An entirely separate device E holds a book open for copying purposes. The surface of the plate A is entirely free of clamps and other fixtures that would interfere with the assembly function.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to stenographic aids, and particularly, to apparatus for holding books and sheet material for copying as well as for facilitating precise juxtaposed assembly of a number of sheets of paper and carbon paper.

Most stenographers use copyholders of one type or another. One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a copyholder that, by simple means, is capable of serving as an assembly aid for accurately stacking sheets of material together for stapling, punching or for insertion into a typewriter.

Another object of this invention is to provide a copyholder of this character that constitutes a vast simplification as compared with known copyholders, yet which has all necessary features of operation, including, by the aid of a simple separate device, means for holding a book in open position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a structure for yieldingly holding a number of sheets of material at a desired height, but which is out of the way when the device is used for assembly.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose, there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification, and which drawings are true scale. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of my new copyholder.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along the offset plane corresponding to line 33 of FIG. 1, and with a rubber band attached.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

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FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are pictorial views illustrating different modes of operation of the device.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the plane corresponding to line 88 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view illustrating the device tilted to a position for use as an assembly aid.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the copyholder showing the elements contacting the supporting surface.

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the book holder shown in FIG. 7, the book being illustrated in phantom lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The copyholder shown in the drawings comprises a generally rectangular support or plate A made or" light-weight molded plastic material. At the lower end of the support is a ledge or shelf 10 forming a rest for a stenographers notebook, a book or sheet material. The support has two integrally formed feet 12 and 14 projecting downwardly from beneath the ledge 10. In order to provide a suitable friction grip, rubber or plastic caps 16 and 18 are pressed over the feet 12 and 14.

The support A is normally held in an inclined position. A center leg 20 cooperates with the feet 12 and 14 to determine three points of a plane of contact to which the plate is inclined. This center leg is cast integrally with the plate as a hollow cylinder extending rearwardly from and at right angles to the support A, as shown in FIG. 3. The leg 20 is located substantially midway between the side edges of the plate and fairly close to the lower edge thereof. The end of the cylindrical leg 20 carries a rubber or plastic cap 21.

In order to provide stability, the leg 20 is heavily weighted. For this purpose, there is received in the cylindrical leg 20 a metal bar 22 made of cylindrical bar stock material. Ribs 24 (FIGS. 2 and 3) provide lateral reinforcement for the cylindrical leg. Despite the triangular or three-point support of the copyholder, a considerable force is necessary to tilt it away from its normal orientation due to the provision of the weighted bar 22.

As shown in FIG. 5, a single sheet of material may rest upon the ledge 10 in a conventional manner. In the same manner, a stenographers notebook or the like may be rested on the ledge 10. As the material is copied, the eye progresses from the top of the copyholder to the bottom thereof. However, many stenographers prefer to keep their eyes substantially at the same level. This is made possible by a simple clamping device shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 6 and 8. The operative element of the clamp is a rubber band 26. This rubber band 26 (FIGS. 6 and 8) is flexed to encompass the upper portion of the support A adjacent the top edge 28. The frontal smooth surface 32 of the support A has a narrow groove 30 (FIGS. 1 and 3) extending parallel to the top edge 28. The frontal portion of the rubber band 26 is normally accommodated in the groove so as to be recessed entirely beneath the surface of the support A as shown in FIG. 3. A sheet of material 34 (FIG. 8) may be inserted beneath the rubber band 26 to be yieldingly gripped thereby. To facilitate insertion of the sheet, a notch 36 (FIG. 1) extends downwardly from the center of the top edge 28 to intersect the groove 30. Accordingly, the rubber band can be readily grasped and moved outwardly for insertion of the sheet. After the upper portion of the sheet 34 is copied, the sheet can be pulled upwardly to an appropriate position.

The distance between the lower ledge 10 and the top edge 28 is approximately the same as the vertical dimension of a standard 8%." x 11" sheet. The rubber band 26 is located so as to engage along the upper edge of sheets rested on the ledge 10. Thus the groove 30 is spaced from the ledge 10 by an amount just less than 11".

In FIG. 6 a legal size sheet is shown by way of example that, in this instance, overlies the lower ledge 10.

When the lower edge is used to support a book (FIG. 7) a clip E may be provided for holding it open. The clip E is made of relatively rigid flat plastic material having three prongs 40, 42 and 44 extending in the same direction from a common base with two of the prongs 40 and 42 located quite close to each other. The spacing between the prongs may be of the order of A. The adjacent prongs 40 and 42 are inserted on one side of the book shown in FIG. 7, with the end leg of 40 uppermost and the intermediate leg 42 inserted behind a certain thickness of pages. The opposite prong 44 overlies the pages on the opposite side of the book. The space between the center prong 42 and the distant prong 44 is adequate to bridge the spine of the book. The center prong 42 serves as an effective anchor because the intermediate pages are caused to arch substantially due to the slight clearance between the prongs 40 and 42. This occurs since the clip E is relatively rigid and the prongs remain in the same plane. The arched pages, due to the wrap around effect, impose forces on the end prongs keeping them in place.

The device B may be used effectively with virtually any book, independently of thickness, size, shape or rigidity of covers. By virtue of the provision of the de vice E, no separate spring structure need be provided for this purpose on the copyholder itself.

The copyholder has a side ledge 50 to which the lefthand edges of paper on the surface 32 may he squared. The side ledge 50 cooperates with the lower ledge for the purposes of assembling a number of sheets of material in accurate juxtaposed relationship. The ledge 50 extends frontally at right angles to the support surface 32, and defines with the ledge 10 a common lower left-hand corner 52. The corner 52 is formed by the intersection of lines a and b (FIG. 9) extending along the inside of the ledges at the plane of the surface 32. Both the ledges 50 and 10 terminate short of the corner so defined. The ledge 50 extends upwardly approximately half the height of the copyholder. An ear 54 at the upper left-hand corner of the copyholder complements the ledge 50 and forms an effective extension thereof. Thus, the inner surfaces of the ear 54 and the ledge fall in a common plane.

In order to accomplish automatic and precise juxtapositioning of successive layers of paper, the support a is moved to a tilted position in which the corner 52 is lower than all portions of both right angle lines a and b defining the corner. When so tilted, the paper is urged against the ledge 50 and the ear 54, as well as against the lower ledge 10.

The support 32 is tilted about an axis x (FIG. 5) forming the points of contact of the foot cap 16 and the cap 21, causing the opposite foot cap 18 to be elevated (FIG. 9). The limit of such tilting movement is determined by an auxiliary foot 58. The foot 58 extends rearwardly of the support A from a place located near the upper portion of the ledge 50. The foot 58 has two angled sections 60 and 62 as shown in FIG. 2. These angled sections taper substantially to a small common contact area 64. One of the angled parts 62 forms essentially a continuation of the outer side of the side ledge 50.

The center of gravity of the bar 22 in the position of FIGS. 5 to 7 falls on the same side of the vertical plane including the axis x as the foot 14. Accordingly, the torque keeps the foot 14 against the support and the copyholder is maintained in the position of FIGS. 5, 6 or 7. However, upon sufficient rotation of the copyholder about the axis x, the center of gravity of the bar 22 passes through the vertical plane including the axis x, whereupon the bar 22 now serves to maintain the device in a position in which the auxiliary leg 58 engages the support. Accordingly, the copyholder is stable in either the position shown in FIG. 9, or the positions shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

When the copyholder is in the position shown in FIG. 9, sheets of material placed upon the surface 32 will fall into corner alignment. I have found that the automatic cornering takes place best when sheets are placed upon the support one at a time. However, when carbon paper is used, a slightly different procedure has been found best. The original paper (ribbon copy) is first placed on the support with the letterhead (if any) facing the support and upside down. A copy sheet is then placed on top of carbon paper with the carbon side face up. The copy sheet and carbon paper are then together dropped on the original paper with the carbon paper underneath, all with about a one inch spacing between the edges of the precollated set and the ledges 10 and 50. The operation is repeated for as many copies as are required. This procedure minimizes smudging and also serves to stiffen the flimsy carbon paper. The assembled stack of papers is then picked up with both hands, and is ready for direct insertion into a typewriter without turning or reversing. Of course, the papers may be assembled for stapling or punching instead of for insertion in a typewriter.

The center leg 20 is located rather close to the lower edge of the support. Accordingly, the weight or bar 22 imparts substantial stability to the feet 12 and 14, as well as to the auxiliary foot 58 when the support is in a tilted position. Moreover, by so locating the center leg 20, its overall size as well as the size of the auxiliary foot 58 are conveniently minimized.

A hook 66 (FIG. 4) is formed at the upper end of the ledge 50, The hook 66 extends upwardly of the support from an intermediate oifset portion 68 (FIGS. 1 and 9). The hook 66 (FIG. 4) has a sloping undersurface 70 located above the surface 32. The surface 70 terminates at a surface 72 coincident with or laterally beyond the plane of the inside surface of the ledge 50 in order to allow the edge of the paper to contact the ledge. Should the sheet be upwardly curved about a longitudinal or vertical axis, its side edge will be caught by the hook; the surface 70 will move the edge of the sheet into proper position against the support surface 32 or the underlying layer.

To facilitate grasping the stacked papers, the righthand side of the support A is relieved as at 76, and the left-hand edge is relieved between the ear 54 and the ledge 50 as at 78.

The ear 79 above the relieved portion 76 has a side edge spaced from the opposite side ledge 50 by an amount greater than 8 /2". Thus, sheets of standard size paper may be inserted beneath the rubber band 26 anchored at the ear. The effective width beneath the ear is slightly less than 8 /2".

A relieved portion 80 of the support opposite the hook 66 allows the hook to be molded as a unitary part of the device.

I claim:

1. In a copyholder: a support having means forming a surface against which paper sheets may rest; means forming a pair of ledges extending frontally of said sur face, said ledges being located at right angle relationship with respect to each other and along the bottom and one side of said support respectively to engage the bottom and side edges of paper sheets placed upon said support surface; means mounting said support for tilting movement about an axis transverse to said support surface; and means determining opposite limits to the tilting movement of said support about said axis; one of said ledges being substantially horizontal and the other of said ledges being vertically inclined thereto when said sup ort is at one of said limits; both of said ledges being vertically inclined upwardly from the corner defined by said ledges when said support is in the other of said limits.

2. The copyholder as set forth in claim 1 in which said other ledge has means providing a cam surface opposed to said support surface for. engaging the side edges of paper sheets placed upon said support surface to urge said sheets toward the plane of said support surface.

3. The copyholder as set forth in claim 1 in which said other ledge is formed as spaced complementary parts, the side of said copyholder between said parts being relieved to provide a grip region at which the side edges of paper sheets squared on the support may be grasped.

4. The copyholder as set forth in claim 3 in which the side of said support opposite said other ledge is relieved to provide a grip region at which the opposite side edges of the paper sheets may be grasped.

5. The copyholder as set forth in claim 1 in which said support is provided with a groove extending across the entire width of said support and parallel to said one ledge, said groove being located beneath the top edge of said support; and a rubber band encompassing said support having one portion accommodated in said groove; said groove being sufficiently deep normally to locate said rubber band beneath the plane of said support surface to be out of contact with paper sheet or sheets placed upon said support surface unless flexed to encompass such sheet or sheets.

6. In a copylholder: a support having means forming a surface against which paper sheets may rest; means forming a pair of ledges extending frontally of said surface, said ledges being located at right angle relationship with respect to each other and along the bottom and one side of said support respectively to engage the bottom and side edges of paper sheets placed upon said support surface; a first leg extending rearwardly and located between the sides thereof to define a normal contact plane in which one of said ledges extends parallel to said normal contact plane and the other of said ledges and said support surface are incl ned to said normal contact plane; an auxiliary leg extending rearwardly of said support and terminating short of said normal contact plane as well as laterally of said first leg to determine an auxiliary contact plane in which both of said ledges incline downwardly toward the corner defined by said ledges when said auxiliary contact plane is horizontal.

7. The copyholder as set forth in claim 6 in which said first leg is hollow; and weight means accommodated in said hollow leg to stabilize said copyholder.

8. The copyholder as set forth in claim 6 in which said first leg is formed as a hollow cylinder to comprise a part moldable with said support as a unit; and a closure fitting the end of said first leg for confining said weight means therein.

9. In a copyholder: a support having a fiat surface; said support having a lower ledge upon which material to be copied may rest; said support having adjacent its upper edge, groove means for locating a rubber band on the copyholder at a defined level thereof; and a rubber band anchored by and accommodated in said groove whereby a paper may be adjustably and frictionally held between the rubber band and the support; said groove means extending entirely across the front surface of said support with said rubber band recessed therein beneath the level of said support thus to clear any article placed on the support and rested on said ledge; and said support provided with a recess extending downwardly from substantially the center of said upper edge and intersecting said groove means thus providing access for digital engagement of said rubber band for its outward flexure.

10. In a copyholder: a support made of molded plastic material having a flat supporting surface; said support having a pair of frontally extending ledges located at right angle relationship with respect to each other and defining a common corner; said ledges being positioned to engage the bottom and side edges of paper sheets placed upon said support surface; said support having a pair of integrally formed feet projecting downwardly of said support beneath said ledge and located at the respective sides of said support; a hollow cylinder formed integrally with said support and projecting rearwardly thereof from a place located substantially centrally of the said support and having an open end; a cylindrical Weight accommodated in said cylinder; a rubber-like cap fitting the open end of said cylinder and closing it; the end of said cylinder at the area of said cap and said feet together defining a normal contact plane in which one of said ledges extends parallel to said normal contact plane and the other of said ledges and the said support surface are inclined to said normal contact plane; a leg formed integrally with said support extending rearwardly of said support from a location beneath said other ledge, said leg terminating short of said normal contact plane to determine an auxiliary contact plane in which both of said ledges incline downwardly toward said corner when said auxiliary contact plane is horizontal; and center of gravity of said weight being located to stabilize said copyholder when either of said contact planes is horizontal.

11. The copyholder as set forth in claim 10 in which said other ledge has means providing a cam surface 0pposed to said support surface for engaging the side edges of paper sheets placed upon said support surface to urge said sheets toward said support surface.

12. The copyholder as set forth in claim 10 in which said other ledge is formed as spaced complementary parts, the side of said copyholder between said parts being relieved to provide a grip region at which the side edges of paper sheets squared on the support may be grasped, the side of said support opposite said other ledge being relieved to provide a grip region at which the opposite side edges of the paper may be grasped.

13. The copyholder as set forth in claim 10 in which said support is provided with a groove extending across the entire width of said support and parallel to said one ledge, said groove being located beneath the top edge of said support; and a rubber band encompassing said support and having one portion accommodated in said groove; said groove being suificiently deep normally to locate said rubber band beneath the plane of said support surface to be out of contact with paper sheet or sheets placed upon said support surface unless flexed to encompass such sheet or sheets; said support having a recess extending downwardly from the top surface of said support and intersecting said groove to provide access for digital engagement of said rubber band.

14. The copyholder as set forth in claim 13 in which the width of said support at the level of said groove is greater than the width of a standard size letter sheet, and in which the sides of said support are relieved whereby sheets of material squared against said ledges may be grasped.

15. In a copyholder: a support made of light weight molded plastic material having a support surface and having integrally formed thereon a frontal ledge extending along the bottom edge of the support to engage the bottom edges of paper sheets placed upon said support surface; leg means formed integrally with said support and defining a normal contact plane in which said ledge extends substantially parallel to said contact plane with said support surface inclined thereto; a weight carried by said copyholder adjacent the bottom edge thereof and stabilizing said copyholder; said leg means including a hollow post extending rearwardly from said support, the end of said post remote from said support being open; a weight fitted in said post; and a cap closing the said open end of said post and confining said weight in said post.

16. In a copyholder: a support made of light weight molded plastic material having a support surface and having integrally formed thereon a frontal ledge extending along the bottom edge of the support to engage the bottom edges of paper sheets placed upon said support surface; leg means formed integrally with said support and defining a normal contact plane in which said ledge extends substantially parallel to said contact plane with said support surface inclined thereto; a weight carried by said copyholder adjacent the bottom edge thereof and stabilizing said copyholder; said leg means comprising a single leg formed as a hollow cylinder extending rearwardly of said support, the end of said cylinder remote from said support being open, the end adjacent said support being closed thereby; a cylindrical weight bar fitted 10 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS U.S. Cl. X.R. 

